New Bedford law restricts oversized RVs on residential streets

BEDFORD, N.Y. - It took only about three minutes for the Town Board to resolve the recreational vehicle issue that’s dogged it for months.

In a roll-call March 3 vote, the board enacted broad restrictions on where and how long oversized RVs can (and cannot) park in the town. Enactment of the new regulations, delayed two weeks by a mix-up last month, was the board’s response to a big rig, now long gone, that had become a persistent presence on Katonah’s tiny Edgemont Road.

After residents complained in December that the RV obstructed people’s views when they pulled out of driveways and was difficult to get around on the narrow street, officials began crafting RV restrictions.

Town Board members Stephanie McCaine and Thomas Catoliato worked with Town Attorney Eric Gordon to revise and clarify the language of a proposed local law scheduled for a Feb. 17 vote.

But an earlier version of the law was posted online ahead of the February meeting, forcing a postponement. At the March meeting, Calves assured board members, “The correct law is attached to the agenda.”

“The revisions to the town law are to address the safety issues of oversized RVs on town roads in general,” Supervisor Ellen Calves told The Katonah-Lewisboro Times in an email, “just as we have done with industrial vehicles.”

The new law defines oversized vehicles as more than 20 feet long with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more and designated Class A, Class C and so-called “fifth wheel,” the supervisor said.

Class A rigs reach 45 feet or more in length while Class C vehicles, built on a converted bus or truck chassis, run 35 feet or longer. Fivers, as the fifth wheels are known, can range in size up to 45 feet and are pulled by a pickup truck using a special hitch.

“Those sized vehicles may not park on residential streets without prior authorization from the supervisor,” Calves said, “but they may park in lots 3, 2 and [the town’s commuter parking area] on Railroad Avenue, per the rules of those parking lots, for no more than three consecutive days. After three days, they would have to move to a different lot.”

Town officials knew “we couldn’t change the law for one individual,” Calves said. “It had to be comprehensive, and this is how long it takes to do it right—well, maybe [it took] one extra meeting. It’s very difficult to legislate around one particular thing; it has to apply to everyone. We think we did get it right.”

Farmers Market in Katonah

John Jay Homestead’s farmers market will relocate again this spring to downtown Katonah while renovation work continues at the historic site.

Celebrating its 16th season, the market will set up shop in town lot 2, behind 192-256 Katonah Avenue, every Saturday, starting May 2 and running through Nov. 21. Under an agreement the town negotiated with the Friends of the John Jay Homestead, the market will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine, closing only in the event of extreme weather.

Shoppers enter lot 2 via the Coldwell Banker driveway and exit at Katonah Art and Frame Shop. Market offerings include New York-grown fruits and vegetables, seafood, breads and specialty items.